Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) Practice Exam

What does the suffix -pathy refer to?

1. Inflammation

2. State of; condition

3. Disease condition

4. Condition of abnormality

The correct answer is: Disease condition

The suffix -pathy is commonly used in medical terminology to refer to a disease condition. It indicates a pathological state or a disorder affecting a specific part of the body or system. For example, the term "neuropathy" refers to a disease or dysfunction of nerves, while "cardiopathy" refers to heart disease. The use of -pathy emphasizes that there is an underlying disease process affecting health. In contrast, the other options refer to different medical or anatomical concepts. Inflammation typically pertains to the body's response to injury or infection, characterized by redness, heat, swelling, and pain. The phrase "state of; condition" pertains more to general states rather than specifically referencing disease. Lastly, "condition of abnormality" implies a deviation from the norm, but it doesn't necessarily denote an established disease, whereas -pathy specifically indicates an identifiable disease state. Therefore, the choice of -pathy as a reference to a disease condition is accurate and highlights its role in categorizing various health disorders.